Scottish Executive

Autism

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-26322 by Iain Gray on 7 June 2002, whether it will give a breakdown of the £22.6 million allocated to implementing the recommendations of the Beattie Committee and whether it has identified any specific projects for people diagnosed with (a) autistic spectrum disorders and (b) Asperger’s Syndrome.

Iain Gray: I refer the member to the answers given to questions S1W-21136 (10 January 2002), S1W-21818 and S1W-21819 (28 January 2002), and S1W-25412 (20 May 2002).

Autism

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-26276 by Mr Frank McAveety on 10 June 2002, what role the Advocacy Safeguards Agency and the Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance will play in advancing the establishment of independent advice and advisory services for parents and carers of those diagnosed with (a) autistic spectrum disorders and (b) Asperger’s Syndrome.

Mr Frank McAveety: The Advocacy Safeguards Agency will provide key elements of the necessary infrastructure for an effective national approach to independent advocacy of all types in Scotland. The Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance will promote, support and defend independent advocacy in Scotland. Both organisations will support the Executive’s commitment to making high quality independent advocacy available to people, including the parents and carers of those diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorders and Asperger’s Syndrome, who need such support.

Autism

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-26276 by Mr Frank McAveety on 10 June 2002, what the total cost was of setting up (a) the Advocacy Safeguards Agency and (b) the Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance.

Mr Frank McAveety: The set up and running costs of the Advocacy Safeguards Agency during 2002-03 are £358,700. The Scottish Executive Health Department has grant funded the agency by this amount. The set up and running costs of the Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance for 2002-03 is £124,600. A grant of 85% of these costs (£114,100) has been made available to the alliance by the Scottish Executive Health Department.

Central Heating

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-26250 by Hugh Henry on 17 June 2002, whether there is an accelerated procedure for accessing the central heating installation programme in cases of emergency and, if so, how such a procedure is publicised and in what circumstances it can be accessed successfully.

Hugh Henry: To be eligible for the central heating programme in the private sector all applicants or their partner must be aged 60 or over. Applications to date show that a very large number are in their 70s. All applicants would naturally like central heating as quickly as possible. The programme generally delivers central heating on a first come first served basis to avoid having to determine the relative needs of thousands of applicants, but exceptional cases will be considered on an individual basis.

Civil Service

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether The Civil Service Code applies to employees of executive agencies, non-departmental public bodies and health boards and trusts and, if not, what rules of accountability apply to these bodies and what plans it has to make any changes to the position.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Civil Service Code applies to all civil servants, which includes the staff of Scottish Executive agencies. As non-civil servants, the staff of non-departmental public bodies, health boards and trusts are not subject to the code.

  Non-departmental public bodies have a model code of conduct for staff which they adopt to suit their individual circumstances. Staff are accountable to the board of the body in which they serve. Boards are accountable to their minister and the minister responsible for the body is ultimately accountable to Parliament. Similar arrangements apply to health boards and trusts. There are no plans to make changes to this position.

Concessionary Travel

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any assessment of the number of registered blind persons living in the islands who would benefit from the extension of the national free concessionary travel scheme for blind people to cover air travel between the islands and the mainland.

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any assessment of the cost of an extension of the national free concessionary travel scheme for blind people to cover air travel between the islands and the mainland.

Lewis Macdonald: No.

Concessionary Travel

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to include air travel between the islands and mainland in any extended or new national free concessionary travel scheme for blind people.

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive why it has excluded air travel between the islands and mainland from the national free concessionary travel scheme for blind people when the alternative transport service can be ferry trips of a much longer duration.

Lewis Macdonald: The national free concessionary travel scheme for the blind is a voluntary partnership agreement between the Scottish Executive, local authorities, Strathclyde Passenger Transport and rail, bus and ferry operators. It is open to island councils to seek to enhance, with the agreement of air operators, their local concessionary travel schemes to provide air travel for local residents.

Concessionary Travel

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many journeys were made by registered blind people under the national free concessionary travel scheme for blind people in each year for which figures are available, broken down by rail, bus, ferry and underground train services.

Lewis Macdonald: The information requested is not held centrally.

Dentistry

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-18321 by Susan Deacon on 22 November 2001, what proposals there are for the delivery of orthodontics.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: As part of the Scottish Executive's review of orthodontic services, a new grade of Specialist Salaried General Dental Practitioner and associated feescale were introduced on 9 April 2002 for the salaried general dental service. Such specialist practitioners include orthodontists, with a view to increasing availability of NHS orthodontic treatment. The Executive has already approved, to date, two specialist orthodontist salaried general dental practitioner posts.

Dentistry

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children aged 6 to 8 years in deprivation categories 5, 6 and 7 are on the enhanced registration scheme for dentistry in each health trust.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: A caries prevention scheme, which provides the dentist with additional capitation fees, was introduced in October 2001. The scheme is open to all six- and seven-year-olds in Scotland and provides the dentist with an enhanced monthly fee according to the Deprivation Category of the practice postcode. The number of six- and seven-year-olds registered in Deprivation Categories 5, 6 and 7 is set out in the following table:

  


NHS Board 
  

Deprivation Category 
  

Number of Children Aged 6 and 7 Years 
  



Argyll and Clyde 
  

5
6 
  

4,279
2,694 
  



Ayrshire and Arran 
  

5
6 
  

3,764
446 
  



Borders 
  

Nil 
  

Nil 
  



Dumfries and Galloway 
  

5 
  

667 
  



Fife 
  

5 
  

1,860 
  



Forth Valley 
  

5
6 
  

762
1,929 
  



Grampian 
  

5 
  

1,786 
  



Greater Glasgow 
  

5
6
7 
  

4,970
9,007
12,403 
  



Highland 
  

5 
  

497 
  



Lanarkshire 
  

5
6
7 
  

5,799
3,890
616 
  



Lothian 
  

5
6
7 
  

5,441
74
872 
  



Orkney 
  

Nil 
  

Nil 
  



Tayside 
  

5
6 
  

2,955
1,762 
  



Shetland 
  

Nil 
  

Nil 
  



Western Isles 
  

6 
  

8

Dentistry

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-18320 by Susan Deacon on 22 November 2001, whether a dental therapist course has now been established and, if so, how many places are available this year.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: The feasibility study referred to in the answer to question S1W-18320 has concurred that therapist training is feasible within Scotland and has identified the resources required. Potential numbers, location and timing are still being discussed, but it is expected that plans will allow therapist training to start in 2003. The Scottish Advisory Committee for the Dental Workforce (SACDW) will be discussing this issue at their next meeting, prior to making recommendations on the best balance of numbers in training between hygienists and therapists for Scotland. In order to encourage these professional groups to work in all areas of Scotland, we are also reviewing how, in the longer term, educational provision can be supplied in partnership with remote and rural areas of Scotland.

Dentistry

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-18323 by Susan Deacon on 22 November 2001, how many dental hygienists and dental therapists are currently undergoing training at each centre.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: The number of dental hygienists training in Scotland is as follows:

  I also refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-27548 today, which outlines the current position on training of dental therapists.

Dentistry

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-18321 by Susan Deacon on 22 November 2001, when it will make any recommendations relating to the review of the fee structure for orthodontics and sedation.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-27546 today for an update on the Executive's progress on the delivery of orthodontic treatment. No imminent changes to orthodontic fees are planned. The Executive has already reviewed the narrative and fees for sedation, contained in the Statement of Dental Remuneration, to increase patient safety, and is considering what further changes may be required to the overall framework for the delivery of sedation services in Scotland, following the recent publication of the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network's guideline on the Safe Sedation of Children Undergoing Diagnostic and Therapeutic Procedures . A working group, which includes representation from the profession, has been set up by the Executive to examine this area.

Justice

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities collect data on the number of charges made and convictions secured for the misuse of disabled person’s parking badges.

Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-27208 on 5 August 2002. This information is not held centrally.

Medical Research

Alex Fergusson (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-24579 by Malcolm Chisholm on 22 April 2002, whether myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome is included in the psychiatric research studies into "medically unexplained symptoms" and whether it will list all named medical conditions that are included in the research.

Malcolm Chisholm: The criteria for inclusion in the research are: unexplained motor symptoms, medically unexplained neurological symptoms, and frequent referral from primary to secondary care for medically unexplained symptoms. They are based on the absence of conventionally defined organic disease and on the way patients are managed in the health service. Patients with ME/CFS may be among those recruited into the study, but the presence or absence of this condition is not a criterion for either inclusion or exclusion.

Medical Research

Alex Fergusson (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S1W-11358 by Susan Deacon on 11 December 2000 and S1W-24580 by Malcolm Chisholm on 22 April 2002, why £135,000 was allocated to the epidemiological study of unexplained motor symptoms, given the Executive's position on the value of epidemiological studies where there is no independently validated diagnostic test.

Malcolm Chisholm: Question S1W-11358 was specifically about ME/CFS, for which there is at present no independently validated diagnostic test. The epidemiological study will determine the annual incidence of patients with unexplained motor symptoms presenting to a neurological service in a defined geographical area. The criteria for inclusion in the study are based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV) criteria for "conversion disorder" and were determined by means of a structured clinical interview conducted by a neurologist. The grant was awarded on the grounds that a better understanding of the factors associated with the development of unexplained motor symptoms would contribute to improved treatment.

Medical Research

Alex Fergusson (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what recent studies it has undertaken in order to estimate recovery rates from myalgic encephalomyelitis(ME)/chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

Mr Frank McAveety: The Executive does not itself carry out research studies, but may fund NHS and academic bodies to do so. No recent studies into recovery rates from ME/CFS have been funded.

Mental Health

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-26323 by Mr Frank McAveety on 7 June 2002, when the report of the review of child and adolescent mental health provision by the Public Health Institute for Scotland will be (a) published and (b) made available to the Parliament.

Mr Frank McAveety: The Public Health Institute of Scotland published in May this year its Needs Assessment Report on Child and Adolescent Mental Health - An Interim Briefing  setting out the emerging findings from the national review and what further work is being undertaken. That report is available from the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 22592). The final report will be published later in the year and a copy placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

Alex Fergusson (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-25608 by Malcolm Chisholm on 17 May 2002, how many children have been diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome in hospitals in each of the last five years.

Mr Frank McAveety: The following table shows numbers of people under 18 seen as in-patients and day patients and discharged with a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis. Figures for those seen as out-patients are not available.

  


Year ended 31 December 
  

Patients aged under 18 
  



1997 
  

12 
  



1998 
  

10 
  



1999 
  

8 
  



2000 
  

8 
  



2001 
  

13

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

Alex Fergusson (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that adequate postgraduate education on the diagnosis and treatment of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome is available to the medical profession.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: Postgraduate education for hospital doctors requiring additional training in the diagnosis and treatment of such conditions will be delivered through Continuous Professional Development programmes, which are organised and approved by the medical Royal Colleges. Programmes that are developed for doctors in the training grades will include the relevant education and training that is needed in their areas of practice. Guidance and assistance is available to hospital doctors from NHS Education for Scotland via the Postgraduate Deans and Tutors. General practitioners, like other professionals, are expected to look at their own personal learning needs and the health needs of their patients and to seek training accordingly. Guidance and assistance is available to GPs from NHS Education for Scotland via the Postgraduate Directors of General Practice Education.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

Alex Fergusson (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines have been issued to local authority social work departments regarding provision for (a) housebound and (b) bedbound sufferers of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Mr Frank McAveety: Local authorities are required to provide services to all individuals who need social work services in their areas and who may require community care services under the terms of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968. That would include those who suffer from myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). We have issued no specific guidance relative to those who suffer from ME/CFS or any other chronic condition which may cause disability, but are continuing to provide local authorities with the guidance - as well as with the resources and support - to meet the needs of the people in their areas.

NHS Waiting Times

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the current average waiting times are for appointments in respect of (a) drug and (b) alcohol addiction in each NHS trust.

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the current average waiting times are for detox and other rehabilitation services in each NHS board for (a) drugs and (b) alcohol addiction.

Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is not held centrally. Waiting time information for treatment for drug and alcohol problems is not held consistently by NHS Trusts. The Executive has, however, obtained information from Drug Action Team Corporate Action Plans which indicates that there are wide variations in waiting times for clients seeking help with drug problems, from a matter of days to several months. Waiting times also vary according to the type of treatment and care required and on the system of prioritisation operating locally. The Effective Interventions Unit’s work on integrated care, which will be published in the autumn, will include material about good practice in managing drug treatment services to avoid lengthy waiting times. ISD Scotland and the National Waiting Times Unit are currently involved in identifying how waiting time information in this area might be improved and monitored in the future.

Pensions

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-5388 by Mr Andy Kerr on 20 June 2002 that "common practice in Scotland is to provide protection for pensions", Official Report , Col. 12966, why it did not comply with this practice in respect of its trunk roads maintenance contracts and what its position now is on not having provided full pension protection in these contracts, detailing the reasons behind its position on the matter.

Lewis Macdonald: The Statement of Practice published in 2000 by the Cabinet Office provides guidance on staff transfers and advises that broadly comparable pensions should be provided when organisations contract out public services. Staff transfers are covered by the TUPE Regulations and are a matter of law. After careful examination of the Statement of Practice , the Scottish Executive concluded that the circumstances of the trunk road maintenance contracts fell outwith the document. The Scottish Executive was not the employer of the public sector workers involved, nor did the Scottish Executive or its predecessors ever employ them.

  Investigations are on-going into whether there might be other ways to provide compensation for the loss of future pension rights for the transferred staff affected. This is a complex area and there is no guarantee of a favourable outcome.

Prison Service

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, in relation to the Scottish Prison Service estates review, what its position is on the fact that PricewaterhouseCoopers did not audit the methodology of determining costs and risk pricing inputs for the public sector comparator in the Financial Review of Scottish Prison Service Estates Review and what the reasons are for this position.

Mr Jim Wallace: PricewaterhouseCoopers were not asked to do an audit. They were asked to undertake a financial review to support investment decisions that form part of the Scottish Prison Service Estates Review. The Executive is content that this verification process carried out by PricewaterhouseCoopers is robust.

Prison Service

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its response to the Scottish Prison Service Estates Review.

Mr Jim Wallace: The period for public consultation on the Executive’s proposals for the future of the prison estate ended on 12 June. The proposals focused on three main challenges: to provide enough places for the prisoner population; to end the practice of slopping out in our prisons as quickly as possible, and to find the option which represents the best value for money to the taxpayer. The Executive remains committed to meeting those challenges. We will study carefully all the responses to our proposals before taking any decisions.

Prison Service

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to present its proposals on prisons in the light of responses to the Scottish Prison Services Estates Review and whether it will consult further with the Parliament and bodies concerned before finalising its proposals.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive’s proposals for the future of the Scottish prison estate were published on 21 March 2002 for public consultation. The proposals focused on three main challenges: to provide enough places for the prisoner population; to end the practice of slopping out in our prisons as quickly as possible, and to find the option which represents the best value for money to the taxpayer. The Executive remains committed to meeting those challenges.

  By 28 June, 129 responses to the proposals had been received. This figure includes a small number of responses received after the formal deadline of 12 June and which the Executive has agreed will still be taken into account. A summary of the responses is being prepared and will be published during the recess. Copies will be sent to all those who responded.

  The Executive will study the responses to the proposals along with the reports of the Justice 1 Committee and of the group reviewing the future management of sex offenders whose establishment was announced on 18 April. I understand the strength of the concerns expressed by some in their responses, and I wish to build a better shared understanding of the challenges addressed by the Estates Review and the concerns raised by respondents. That process may include further dialogue with interested parties, but in the first instance I will be carefully considering all the comments made before announcing the next steps we propose to take. I emphasise that no final decisions have been taken on the proposals.

Public Transport

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what allocations have been made to Stirling Council under its Public Transport Fund; what allocations have still to be made, and what applications have been made that have not received funding in each year since the scheme was established.

Lewis Macdonald: Details of the successful applications made by Stirling Council under the Public Transport Fund are set out in the table:

  


Project (year) (£ million) 
  

2000-01 
  

2001-02 
  

2002-03 
  

2003-04 
  

2004-05 
  



Stirling Bus Priority (1999) 
  

0.150 
  

0.297 
  
 
 
 



Stirling, Bridge of Allan and Dunblane railway stations 
  infrastructure (2001) 
  
 
 

2.538 
  

0.900 
  

0.303 
  



  In the initial 1998 round of the Public Transport Fund, Stirling Council was unsuccessful in its £2.090 million bid for "Change Points 2 – Park and Ride and New Gas Powered Buses" and no bid was submitted under the 2000 third round of the fund. I expect to announce successful bids for this year’s fifth and final round by the end of October.

Rail Network

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what part further electrification of the Scottish rail network will play in its proposals to the Strategic Rail Authority.

Lewis Macdonald: The Directions and Guidance to the Strategic Rail Authority relate to the next Scottish passenger rail franchise. The franchise will be for the provision of services only and will not include the provision of new infrastructure. Where new infrastructure is required, this will be provided outwith the scope of the franchise.

Recycling

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to require local authorities to recycle higher volumes of paper.

Ross Finnie: Local authorities, in collaboration with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and others, have prepared 11 draft Area Waste Plans (AWPs) which outline how municipal waste will be dealt with in each area over the next 20 years. The AWPs indicate the level of recycling which will be carried out to meet the objectives of the National Waste Strategy. The Executive has consulted on their intention to amend the forthcoming local government bill to include a requirement for local authorities to prepare Integrated Waste Management Plans. These plans will have to demonstrate effective steps to meet targets for recycling which will be set by the Executive. In addition, the Executive distributed £3 million in March 2001 to allow local authorities to establish or expand recycling schemes including the collection of paper. A further £50.4 million has been identified in the Strategic Waste Fund for local authorities to implement the Area Waste Plans.

Renewable Energy

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-26295 by Lewis Macdonald on 5 July 2002, what the outcome was of the meeting between its officials, National Air Traffic Services, the Civil Aviation Authority and Scottish Airports Ltd.

Lewis Macdonald: Following this meeting, it was agreed to explore further technical options for resolving concerns related to air safety.

Road Accidents

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-25239 by Lewis Macdonald on 21 May 2002, when interim information on the effectiveness of the A82 Route Accident Reduction Plan will be available.

Lewis Macdonald: The A82 Balloch to Tarbet Route Accident Reduction Plan was completed in 2001. At least three years’ accident figures are required in order to see how well a route accident reduction plan is performing and it will be towards the end of 2004 before an assessment can be made.

Skye Bridge

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-25632 by Patricia Ferguson on 20 May 2002, whether the legal requirements concerning subscription in connection with a statutory instrument also apply to a statutory statement.

Patricia Ferguson: The term "statutory statement" is not one which has any particular meaning in law. Where a statute provides for a statement to be made, issues of whether that statement must be made in writing and, if so, whether it must be subscribed fall to be determined by reference to the terms and context of the statutory provision in question.

Skye Bridge

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-25582 by Colin Boyd QC on 16 May 2002, what its position is on the statement made by Lord Sutherland in his opinion of 16 December 1999 in Smith and Others that "if some person using the bridge could establish that he or she was wholly unaware of the existence of such a thing as a Toll Order a defence is provided by section 3(2) of the Statutory Instruments Act".

Mrs Elish Angiolini: Lord Sutherland’s opinion is consistent with the answer Colin Boyd gave to question S1W-25582 and that given by Lord Hardie to S1W-1350. In the passage quoted Lord Sutherland is discussing those statutory instruments that require to be published where the defence under section 3(2) of the Statutory Instruments Act 1946 applies.

  The Invergarry–Kyle of Lochalsh Trunk Road (A87) Extension (Skye Bridge Crossing) Toll Order 1992 (Statutory Instrument 1501 of 1992) is not such an order. As Lord Sutherland held in the Opinion referred to it is classified as a local order in terms of regulation 4(1) of the Statutory Instruments Regulations 1947, and is, by virtue of the provisions of regulation 5 of the regulations and section 8(1)(c) of the Act, exempt from the requirements of printing and sale.

Skye Bridge

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-25867 by Lewis Macdonald on 28 May 2002, whether the Invergarry-Kyle of Lochalsh A87 Extension (Skye Bridge Crossing) Toll Order (SI 1992/1501) specifically does not itself contain the power to (a) charge tolls and (b) assign toll-charging powers to a concessionaire on the A87.

Lewis Macdonald: The power to charge tolls at the Skye Bridge is set out in section 27 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, and is implemented in The Invergarry-Kyle of Lochalsh Trunk Road (A87) Extension (Skye Bridge Crossing) Toll Order 1992. The power to assign the charging and collection of tolls is set out in section 28 of the 1991 Act and given effect by the 1992 Toll Order and the related Assignation Statement.

Skye Bridge

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-25867 by Lewis Macdonald on 28 May 2002, whether the Invergarry-Kyle of Lochalsh A87 Extension (Skye Bridge Crossing) Toll Order (SI 1992/1501) in any legal sense regulates the use of the A87.

Lewis Macdonald: The Invergarry-Kyle of Lochalsh Trunk Road (A87) Extension (Skye Bridge Crossing) Toll Order 1992 authorises Scottish Ministers to charge tolls in respect of the Skye Bridge and to assign their rights to charge and collect tolls to a concessionaire. The order, as varied by The Invergarry-Kyle of Lochalsh Trunk Road (A87) Extension (Skye Bridge Crossing) Toll Order (Variation Order) 1999, further specifies the maximum tolls chargeable for vehicles using the crossing. Any further interpretation of the effect of the orders is a matter for the Scottish courts.

Social Inclusion

Mr Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to regenerate deprived areas.

Hugh Henry: The Executive supports a wide range of activities across Scotland in pursuit of our social justice and regeneration objectives. Some examples include:

  The Better Neighbourhood Services Fund, providing £90 million over three years to improve the delivery of public services in Scotland’s deprived areas and amongst deprived groups.

  Under the New Housing Partnership Programme, £200 million has been committed to development and regeneration programmes.

  £118 million has been made available through the Social Inclusion Partnership Fund over the two years ending in March 2004.

  In relation to future policy, the Community Regeneration Statement, launched on 25 June, sets out the Executive’s strategy for tackling deprivation in Scotland’s disadvantaged areas.

Social Inclusion

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it monitors the work and performance of the Inverclyde Regeneration Partnership.

Hugh Henry: As with all Social Inclusion Partnerships (SIPs), appraisal of the work and performance of Inverclyde SIP is carried out as per the SIP Monitoring Framework issued by the Scottish Executive in 1999.

  All SIPs are required as part of their terms and conditions of grant to submit an annual report to Communities Scotland by 30 June each year. In these reports SIPs provide the Executive with:

  information on their activities in the previous year

  a forward look to their plans for the future

  financial information in relation to how they have used their grant allocation

  monitoring information in relation to 39 compulsory core indicators (where available locally) aimed at measuring the effectiveness of SIPs in their area of activity

  In relation to the last point, Communities Scotland is presently working with representatives from the SIP network to review the monitoring framework for SIPs with a view to improving its effectiveness.

  As well as the annual report Communities Scotland officials do maintain contact with SIPs throughout the year, attend board meetings, visit SIP projects, and meet with both the SIP Support Team and community representatives associated with the SIP.

Stone of Scone

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what powers it has in respect of the Stone of Scone and to whom issues concerning its proprietorship should now be addressed.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Stone of Scone is the property of the Crown. By Royal Warrant dated 12 November 1996 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second appointed commissioners in Scotland and their successors in Office to guard the Stone. Those commissioners are the Keeper of the Great Seal or Seal used in place of the Great Seal of Scotland (currently the First Minister), the Clerk of Her Majesty’s Archives and Registers, the Lord Advocate in Scotland and the Lord Justice Clerk. Any issues concerning proprietorship of the Stone should be addressed to the commissioners. The Scottish ministers do not collectively have any powers in respect of the Stone.

Student Finance

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-26322 by Iain Gray on 7 June 2002, how much additional funding per student has been made available to further education colleges for students with special needs in each of the last five years.

Iain Gray: This particular information is not held centrally. Future Information

  The Scottish Further Education Funding Council (SFEFC) has recently commissioned a short research study to review the two funding regimes, SFEFC recurrent funding and SFEFC bursary support, which offer assistance for students with additional needs attending further education (FE) colleges in Scotland. Once this has been carried out more detailed information on uptake and payment to students with special educational needs should be available. The final report is due by February 2003.

  Special Educational Needs Allowance

  Students can also apply for student support through the Special Educational Needs Allowance as part of a wider means tested discretionary bursary for FE students. SFEFC do not have information on how many students received the special educational needs allowance element of the bursary award for the years up until 2000-01. However, this information should be available for the year 2001-02, once data on bursary funding is available. This will be in April 2003.

Voluntary Organisations

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much money has been given to voluntary and other organisations to support and advise people with drug and alcohol problems in each of the last five years.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: Details of the core funding provided by the Executive in each of the last five years to voluntary and other organisations to support and advise people with drug and alcohol problems are as follows:

  

 

1998-99
(£ million) 
  

1999-2000
(£ million) 
  

2000-01
(£ million) 
  

2001-02
(£ million) 
  

2002-03
(£ million) 
  



Scotland Against Drugs 
  

0.97 
  

1 
  

1 
  

1.5 
  

1.5 
  



Scottish Drugs Forum 
  

0.153 
  

0.156 
  

0.164 
  

0.187 
  

0.290 
  



Alcohol Focus Scotland 
  

0.155 
  

0.161 
  

0.165 
  

0.165 
  

0.175 
  



Crew 2000 
  

0.025 
  

0.026 
  

0.026 
  

0.027 
  

0.027 
  



  Local agencies supporting people with drug and alcohol problems receive funding from a variety of sources, details of which are not held centrally. These include NHS boards, local authorities, Social Inclusion Partnerships, the Changing Children's Services Fund, the Rural Challenge Fund and the New Futures Fund.

Voluntary Organisations

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding has been given to (a) Alcoholics Anonymous and (b) Narcotics Anonymous in each of the last five years.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: The Executive has provided no funding to Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous in the last five years.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Scottish Parliament Staff

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer whether the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body will provide a breakdown of staff it currently employs by gender, ethnic origin, disability and grade.

Sir David Steel: As part of the implementation of the Parliament's Equality Framework, we plan to conduct a detailed equalities audit of staff before the end of this year. This will provide more detailed information about the composition of the workforce of the Parliament and will provide sound base-line data on which to base future work to tackle any areas of under-representation and disadvantage. Details of staff currently employed by sex, ethnic origin, disability and grade are set out in the table below:

  


Grade1


M 
  

F 
  

Ethnic Origin2


Disability6




White 
  

Asian3


Black4


Other5


Not indicated 
  



CE 
  

1 
  

- 
  

1 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  



Director 
  

1 
  

4 
  

5 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  



7 
  

8 
  

4 
  

9 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

3 
  

- 
  



6 
  

26 
  

19 
  

39 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

6 
  

1 
  



5 
  

31 
  

30 
  

48 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

13 
  

1 
  



4 
  

57 
  

43 
  

84 
  

- 
  

- 
  

1 
  

15 
  

1 
  



3 
  

27 
  

33 
  

57 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

3 
  

1 
  



2 
  

56 
  

58 
  

100 
  

1 
  

- 
  

1 
  

12 
  

3 
  



1 
  

48 
  

20 
  

59 
  

1 
  

1 
  

1 
  

6 
  

1 
  



Total 
  

255 
  

211 
  

402 
  

2 
  

1 
  

3 
  

58 
  

8 
  



  Notes:

  1. Scottish Executive secondees have been included at the equivalent Scottish Parliament Grade. Staff on temporary promotion are shown at the grade that they are currently working.

  2. As defined in the Census (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2000.

  3. Refers to Asian Indian, Asian Pakistani, Asian Bangladeshi, Asian Chinese or other Asian background.

  4. Refers to Black Caribbean, Black African or other black background.

  5. Where a candidate has indicated either an unspecified ethnic origin or unspecified mixed origin.

  6. Refers to applicants who indicated on their application form that they have a disability whether or not it falls under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

Scottish Parliament Staff

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer how many staff were recruited by and on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body in each year from 1999 to 2002, broken down by gender, ethnic origin and disability.

Sir David Steel: The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) began carrying out its own recruitment from January 2000. Prior to that date, recruitment was conducted on behalf of the SPCB by the Scottish Office/Scottish Executive. Details of staff recruited in each year from 1999 to 2002, broken down by sex, ethnic origin and disability are set out in the table below:

  


Year 
  

Total 
  

Sex 
  

Ethnic Origin1


Disability5




M 
  

F 
  

White 
  

Asian2



Black3


Other4



Not Indicated 
  



1999 
  

237 
  

139 
  

98 
  

210 
  

1 
  




1 
  

25 
  

6 
  



2000 
  

101 
  

60 
  

41 
  

83 
  

1 
  

1 
  

1 
  

15 
  

1 
  



2001 
  

77 
  

41 
  

36 
  

72 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  

5 
  

- 
  



2002 
  

44 
  

23 
  

21 
  

41 
  

- 
  

- 
  

1 
  

2 
  

- 
  



  Notes:

  1. As defined in the Census (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2000.

  2. Refers to Asian Indian, Asian Pakistani, Asian Bangladeshi, Asian Chinese or other Asian background.

  3. Refers to Black Caribbean, Black African or other black background.

  4. Where a candidate has indicated either an unspecified ethnic origin or unspecified mixed origin.

  5. Refers to applicants who indicated on their application form that they have a disability whether or not it falls under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.